"THE MYSTERY HID FROM AGES
AND FROM GENERATIONS, BUT NOW MADE MANIFEST TO HIS
SAINTS"--`Col. 1:26`

The Glimmering Light of the First Promise--The Promise to
Abraham-- Hope Deferred--The Mystery Begins to Unravel at
Pentecost--What the Mystery Is--Why So Long Kept a Mystery--Still
a Mystery to the World--In Due Time to be Made Manifest to
All--When the Mystery Will be Finished.

WHILE mankind was under the discipline of evil, and unable to
understand its necessity, God repeatedly expressed his purpose to
restore and bless them through a coming deliverer. But who that
deliverer should be was a mystery for four thousand years, and it
only began to be clearly revealed after the resurrection of
Christ, in the beginning of the Christian or Gospel age.
Looking back to the time when life and Edenic
happiness were forfeited by our first parents, we see them under
the just penalty of sin filled with sorrow, and without a ray of
hope, except that drawn from the obscure statement that the seed
of the woman should bruise the serpent's head. Though in the
light of subsequent developments this is full of significance to
us, to them it was but a faint and glimmering light. Nearly two
thousand years rolled by with no evidence of a fulfilment.
About two thousand years after, God called Abraham,
and promised that his seed should bless all the families of the
earth. This looked as though God still held to his previously
expressed purpose, and was now about to fulfil it.

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Time sped on: the promised land of Canaan was not yet in his
possession; they had yet no offspring, and Abraham and Sarah were
growing old. Abraham reasoned that he must help God to fulfil his
promise; so Ishmael was born. But his assistance was not needed,
for in due time Isaac, the child of hope and promise,
was born. Then it seemed that the promised ruler and blesser of
nations had come. But no: years rolled by, and seemingly God's
promise had failed; for Isaac died, and his heir, Jacob, also.
But the faith of a few still held firmly to the promise, and was
sustained by God; for "the covenant which he made with
Abraham" was assured by God's "oath unto Isaac, and
confirmed to Jacob...and to Israel for an everlasting
covenant." `1 Chron. 16:16,17`
When at the time of Jacob's death his descendants
were first called the TWELVE TRIBES OF ISRAEL, and recognized of
God as a "chosen nation" (`Gen. 49:28`; `Deut. 26:5`),
the expectation that this nation as a whole, as the promised seed
of Abraham, should possess Canaan, and rule and bless the world,
seemed to be on the eve of realization; for already, under the
favor of Egypt, they were becoming a strong nation. But hope was
almost blasted and the promise almost forgotten when the
Egyptians, having gained control of them, held them as slaves for
a long period.
Truly God's promises were shrouded in mystery, and
his ways seemed past finding out. However, in due time came
Moses, a great deliverer, by whose hand God led them out of
bondage, working mighty miracles on their behalf. Before entering
Canaan this great deliverer died; but as the Lord's mouthpiece he
declared, "A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto
you of your brethren, like unto me." (`Deut. 18:15`; `Acts
3:22`) This gave a further insight into God's plan, showing that
not only would their nation, as a whole, be associated in some
way with the future work of

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ruling and blessing, but that one to be selected from among them
would lead to victory and to the fulfilment of the promise. Then
Joshua, whose name signifies deliverer, or savior, became their
leader, and under him they won great victories, and actually
entered the land promised in the covenant. Surely then it seemed
that the true leader had come, and that the promise was about to
have complete fulfilment.
But Joshua died, and they made no headway as a
nation until David, and then Solomon, were given them as kings.
There they reached the very zenith of their glory; but soon,
instead of seeing the promise accomplished, they were shorn of
their power, and became tributary to other nations. Some held
fast the promise of God, however, and still looked for the great
deliverer of whom Moses, Joshua, David and Solomon were only
types.
About the time when Jesus was born, all men were in
expectation of the Messiah, the coming king of Israel and,
through Israel, of the world. But Israel's hope of the glory and
honor of their coming king, inspired as it was by the types and
prophecies of his greatness and power, caused them to overlook
another set of types and prophecies, which pointed to a work of
suffering and death, as a ransom for sinners, necessary before
the blessing could come. This was prefigured in the Passover
before they were delivered from Egypt, in the slaying of the
animals at the giving of the law covenant (`Heb. 9:11-20;
10:8-18`), and in the Atonement sacrifices performed year by year
continually by the priesthood. They overlooked, too, the
statement of the prophets, "who testified beforehand the sufferings
of Christ, and the glory that should follow." (`1
Peter 1:11`) Hence, when Jesus came as a sacrifice, they did not
recognize him; they knew not the time of their visitation. (`Luke
19:44`) Even his immediate followers were sorely perplexed when
Jesus

::page 80::died; and sadly they said, "We trusted it
had been he which should have redeemed Israel." (`Luke
24:21`) Apparently, their confidence in him had been misplaced.
They failed to see that the death of their leader was a surety
for the New Covenant under which the blessings were to come, a
partial fulfilment of the covenant of promise. However, when they
found that he had risen from the tomb, their withered hopes again
began to revive (`1 Peter 1:3`), and when he was about to leave
them, they asked concerning their long-cherished and oft-deferred
hope, saying, "Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again
the kingdom to Israel?" That their hopes were in the main
correct, though they might not know the time when they would be
fulfilled, is evident from our Lord's reply: "It is not for
you to know the times and seasons which the Father hath put in
his own power." `Acts 1:6,7`
What turn has God's plan now taken? must have been
the query of his disciples when Jesus had ascended; for we must
remember that our Lord's teachings concerning the Kingdom were
principally in parables and dark sayings. He had said to them,
"I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear
them now; howbeit, when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will
guide you into all truth." "He shall teach you all
things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I
have said unto you." (`John 16:12,13; 14:26`) So they could
not understand before the Pentecostal blessing came.
Even then, it was some time before they got a clear,
full understanding of the work being done, and its relation to
the original covenant. (`Acts 11:9`; `Gal. 2:2,12,14`) However,
it would seem that even before they fully and clearly understood,
they were used as the mouthpieces of God, and their inspired
words were probably clearer and deeper expressions of truth than
they themselves fully comprehended.

::page 81::For instance, read James' discourse in which he
says: "Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit
the Gentiles to take out of them a people for his name [a bride].
And to this agree the words of the prophets, as it is written,
'After this [after this people from the Gentiles has been taken
out] I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David
[the earthly dominion] which is fallen down, and I will build
again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up.'" `Acts
15:14-16`
James began to read in God's providence, in the
sending of the Gospel through Peter to the first Gentile convert
and through Paul to Gentiles in general, that during this age
believing Jews and Gentiles were to be alike favored. He then
looked up the prophecies and found it so written; and that after
the work of this Gospel age is completed, then the promises to
fleshly Israel will be fulfilled. Gradually the great mystery, so
long hidden, began to be understood by a few--the saints, the
special "friends" of God.
Paul declares (`Col. 1:27`) that this mystery which
hath been hid from ages and from generations, now made manifest
to his saints, is

"Christ in You, the
Hope of Glory."

This is the great mystery of God which has been
hidden from all previous ages, and is still hidden from all
except a special class--the saints, or consecrated believers. But
what is meant by "Christ in you?" We have learned that
Jesus was anointed with the holy Spirit (`Acts 10:38`), and thus
we recognize him to be the Christ--the anointed--for the word Christ
signifies anointed. And the Apostle John says that theanointing which we (consecrated believers) have
received abideth in us. (`1 John 2:27`) Thus the saints
of this Gospel age are an anointed company--anointed to be kings
and priests unto God (`2 Cor. 1:21`; `1 Peter 2:9`); and together
with

::page 82::Jesus, their chief and Lord, they constitute
Jehovah's Anointed--the Christ.
In harmony with this teaching of John, that we also
are anointed, Paul assures us that this mystery which
has been kept secret in ages past, but which is now made known to
the saints, is that the Christ (the Anointed) is
"not one member, but many," just as the human body is
one, and has many members; but as all the members of the body,
being many, are one body, so also is the Anointed--the Christ.
(`1 Cor. 12:12-28`) Jesus is anointed to be the Head or Lord over
the Church, which is his body (or his bride, as expressed in
another figure--`Eph. 5:25-30`), and unitedly they constitute the
promised "Seed"--the Great Deliverer: "If
ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs
according to the promise." `Gal. 3:29`
The Apostle carefully guards the Church against any
presumptive claims, saying of Jesus that "God hath put all
things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all
things to the Church, which is his body," "that in all
things he might have the pre-eminence." (`Eph.
1:22`; `Col. 1:18`) Yet, under the figure of the human body, he
beautifully and forcibly shows our intimate relationship. This
same oneness Jesus also taught, saying, "I am the vine, ye
are the branches." `John 15:5`
Our oneness with the Lord Jesus, as members of the
Christ, the anointed company, is well illustrated by the figure
of the pyramid.
The top-stone is a perfect pyramid of itself. Other
stones may be built up under it, and, if in harmony with all the
characteristic lines of the top-stone, the whole mass will be a
perfect pyramid. How beautifully this illustrates our position as
members of "the Seed"--"the Christ." Joined
to and perfectly in harmony with our Head, we, as living stones,
are perfect; separated from him, we are nothing.

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Jesus, the perfect one, has been highly exalted,
and now we present ourselves to him that we may be formed and
shaped according to his example, and that we may be built up as a
building of God. In an ordinary building there is no chief
corner-stone; but in our building there is one chief
corner-stone, the "top-stone," as it is written:
"Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner-stone, elect,
precious"--"to whom coming as unto a living stone...ye
also as lively [living] stones are built up a spiritual house, a
holy priesthood, to offer up *sacrifices
acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." (`1 Pet. 2:4-6`) And
very soon, we trust, the union between Jesus, the
"Head," and "the Church, which is his body,"
will be complete.
And, dearly beloved, many blows and much polishing
must we endure--much transforming must we undergo, and much
conforming to his example, under the direction of the great
Master-builder; and in order to have the ability and ideality of
the builder displayed in us, we will need to see that we have no
cross-grained will of our own to oppose or thwart the
accomplishment of His will in us; we must be very childlike and
humble--"clothed with humility; for God resisteth the proud,
and giveth grace to the humble."
---------- *Sinaitic MS. omits spiritual
before sacrifices.

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Let us humble ourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God,
that he may exalt us in due time (`1 Peter 5:5,6`), as he has
exalted our Head and Forerunner. `Phil. 2:8,9`
This is indeed a wonderful message, and, as we come
to the Word of God to inquire concerning our great high calling,
we find the prophets all eloquent in proclaiming the grace [favor
or blessing] that is come unto us (`1 Peter 1:10`); while types,
and parables, and hitherto dark sayings, now become luminous,
shedding their light on the "narrow way" in which the
anointed [Christ] company is called to run for the prize now
disclosed to view. This was truly a mystery never before thought
of--that God intends to raise up not only a deliverer, but a
deliverer composed of many members. This is the "high
calling" to which the consecrated believers of the
Gospel age are privileged to attain. Jesus did not attempt to
unfold it to the disciples while natural men, but waited until at
Pentecost they were anointed--begotten to the new nature. From
Paul's explanation we know that none but "new
creatures" can now appreciate or understand this high
calling. He says: "We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery,
even the hidden wisdom [plan] which God ordained before the world
unto our glory; which none of the princes [chief ones] of this
world knew; ...as it is written, 'Eye hath not seen, nor ear
heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things
which God hath prepared for them that love him'; but God hath
revealed them unto us by his Spirit." `1 Cor. 2:6-14`
In his letter to the Galatians, Paul opens up the
entire mystery, and shows how the Abrahamic covenant is to be
fulfilled. He shows that the Law given to Israel did not
interfere with the original covenant (`Gal. 3:15-18`), and that
the seed of Abraham which is to bless all nations is Christ.
(`Verse 16`) Then, carrying out the idea already alluded to,

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that the Christ includes all anointed of the Spirit, he says:
"For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ
have put on Christ;...and if ye be Christ's then are YE [together
with Jesus] Abraham's seed, and heirs, according to the
promise" made to Abraham. (`Verses 27,29`) Following up the
same line of reasoning, he shows (`Gal. 4`) that Abraham was a
type of Jehovah, Sarah a type of the covenant or promise, and
Isaac a type of Christ (head and body); and then adds, "We,
brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise."
(`Verse 28`) Thus the plan of God was hidden in types until the
Gospel age began the development of the Christ.
There has existed a necessity for keeping this
mystery hidden, else it would not have been so kept. It was
necessary, because to have revealed the plan in full to mankind
would have been to frustrate it. Had men known, they would not
have crucified either the Lord of glory or the Church which is
his body. (`1 Cor. 2:8`)
Not only would the death of Christ, as the price of
man's redemption, have been interfered with, had not the plan
been kept a mystery from the world, but the trial of the faith of
the Church, as sharers in the sufferings of Christ, would thereby
have been prevented also; for "The world knoweth us not [as
his joint-heirs] because [for the same reason that] it knew him
not." `1 John 3:1` Not only is the plan of God, and the
Christ which is the very embodiment of that plan, a great mystery
to the world, but the peculiar course in which this little flock
is called to walk marks its members as "peculiar
people." It was a mystery to the world that a person of so
much ability as Jesus of Nazareth should spend his time and
talent as he did, whereas, if he had turned his attention to
politics, law, merchandise or popular religion, he might have
become great and respected. In the opinion of men he foolishly

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wasted his life, and they said, "He hath a devil and is
mad." His life and teachings were mysteries to them. They
could not understand him.
The apostles and their companions were likewise
mysteries in the world, in leaving their business prospects,
etc., to preach forgiveness of sins through the death of the
despised and crucified Jesus. Paul forsook a high station and
social influence to labor with his hands, and to preach Christ,
and the invisible crown for all believers who should walk in his
footsteps. This was so mysterious that some said, "Paul,
thou art beside thyself: much learning doth make thee mad."
And all who so follow in the Master's footsteps are, like Paul,
counted fools for Christ's sake.
But God's plan will not always be shrouded in
mystery: the dawn of the Millennial Day brings the fuller light
of God to men, and "the knowledge of the Lord shall fill the
whole earth." The Sun of Righteousness, which shall arise
with healing in his wings, dispelling the darkness of ignorance,
is the Christ in Millennial glory--not the Head alone, but also
the members of his body; for it is written: If we suffer with
him, we shall also be glorified together. "When Christ, who
is our life, shall appear, then shall we also appear with him
in glory"; and "Then shall the righteous shine
forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father."
`Rom. 8:17`; `2 Tim. 2:11,12`; `Col. 3:4`; `Matt. 13:43`
Now, to all except those begotten to a new mind, by
receiving "the mind of Christ," the promises which we
believe, and the hopes which we cherish, seem visionary, and too
improbable to be received or acted upon. In the age to come, when
God shall "pour out his spirit upon all flesh," as
during the present age he pours it upon his "servants and
handmaids," then indeed all will understand and appreciate
the promises now being grasped by the "little flock";

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and they will rejoice in the obedience and exaltation of the
Church, saying, "Let us be glad, and rejoice, and give honor
to God, for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath
made herself ready." (`Rev. 19:7`) They will rejoice in the
glorification of the Church, through which blessings will then be
flowing to them; and while they will realize that the
"exceeding great and precious promises" inherited by
the Anointed (head and body) are not for them, but are fulfilled
upon us, they will be blessed by the lesson illustrated in the
Church; and while they run for the blessings then held out to
them, they will profit by the example of the Church, and
glorify God on her behalf. But this knowledge will not bring
covetousness; for under the new order of things their calling to
perfect human nature will fully satisfy them, and will seem more
desirable to them than a change of nature.
Then the "mystery" will have ended; for
the world will have come to see that it was the spirit of God in
Christ, and the spirit of Christ in us--God manifested in the
flesh-- which they had hitherto misunderstood. Then they will see
that we were not mad, nor fools; but that we chose the better
part when we ran for the riches, honors and crown, unseen by
them, but eternal.
In point of time, the mystery of God will be
finished during the period of the sounding of the seventh
[symbolic] trumpet. (`Rev. 10:7`) This applies to the mystery in
both senses in which it is used: the mystery or secret features
of God's plan will then be made known and will be
clearly seen; and also the "mystery of God," the
Church, the embodiment of that plan. Both will then be finished.
The secret, hidden plan will have sought out the full, complete
number of the members of the body of Christ, and hence it, the
BODY OF CHRIST, will be finished. The plan will cease to

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be a mystery, because there will be no further object in
perpetuating its secrecy. The greatness of the mystery, so long
kept secret, and hidden in promises, types and figures, and the
wonderful grace bestowed on those called to fellowship in this
mystery (`Eph. 3:9`), suggest to us that the work to follow its
completion, for which for six thousand years Jehovah has kept
mankind in expectation and hope, must be an immense work, a grand
work, worthy of such great preparations. What may we not expect
in blessings upon the world, when the veil of mystery is
withdrawn and the showers of blessing descend! It is this for
which the whole creation groans and travails in pain together
until now, waiting for the completion of this
mystery--for the manifestation of the Sons of God, the promised
"Seed," in whom they shall all be blessed. `Rom.
8:19,21,22`

A Lord's Day Offering

"I offer Thee:
Every heart's throb, they are Thine;
Every human tie of mine;
Every joy and every pain;
Every act of mind or brain--
My blessed God!
Every hope and every fear;
Every smile and every tear;
Every song and hymn,
'Laudamus Te.'